HU EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION REGULATIONS FOR MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Transcription

1 HU Education and Examination Regulations Master s degree programmes Version September 2013 HU University of Applied Science Utrecht Utrecht, 1 September 2013 Reference to the source is obligatory. Multiplication for personal use or internal use is permitted. HU Product number: (SZ/J/ /39

2 Sixth version, determined by the Executive Board on 8 February 2013, approved by the Central Participation Council on 13 February This version comes into effect on 1 September Previous version: determined by the Executive Board on 6 March 2012, approved by the Central Participation Council on 21 March Please notice that this document is a translation of the Dutch regulation. In case of a dissimilarity between the Dutch and the English interpretation of a clause, the Dutch interpretation is leading. In that case no rights may be derived from the translation. Copies of these Education and Examination Regulations will be made available to students at each faculty, with Chapter 10 only including the text that relates to the relevant faculty. The content of Chapter 10 relating to other faculties, can be consulted on the following website: 2/39

3 Contents 1 PREAMBLE 4 2 DEFINITIONS 6 Article 1 Definitions GENERAL STIPULATIONS 11 Article 2 Statutory foundations Article 3 Scope Article 4 Education in Dutch Article 5 Publication EXAMINATION BOARDS: 13 Article 6 Appointment, authorities, and work procedures Article 7 Composition and appointments Article 8 Examiners Article 9 Examination Board request procedure ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURE 17 Article 10 Admission requirements Article 11 Admission procedure Article 12 Study programme Article 13 Study load Article 14 General design requirements Article 15 Design of work-study programmes Article 16 Study counselling and progress Article 16a Admission restrictions for specialisations Article 17 Work placement and practical assignments Article 18 Financial contributions DESIGN OF FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND COURSE EXAMINATIONS 22 Article 19 Course examinations and final examinations Article 20 Registering for courses Article 21 Compulsory attendance Article 22 Content of course and final examinations Article 23 Organisation of course and final examinations Article 24 Registering for course examinations Article 25 Course examination opportunities Article 26 Compulsory identification for course examinations Article 27 Publication of course examination results Article 28 Terms for assessment and inspection Article 29 Irregularities Article 30 Facilities Article 31 Exemptions Article 32 Storing course and final examination work CERTIFICATES AND TITLES 33 Article 33 Certificates Article 34 Degrees and titles Article 35 Graduating 'with distinction' or 'with merit' CLOSING STATEMENTS 36 Article 36 Objection procedure Article 37 Further HU regulations Article 38 Unforeseen circumstances Article 39 Implementation /39

4 1 PREAMBLE The Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek; WHW; hereinafter referred to as the Act ) is the basis for the regulatory framework for higher education. This Act lays down provisions for the organisation and accreditation of study programmes, the organisation of management, student and employee participation, and the student's legal status. The Education and Examination Regulations (EER) for master s degree programmes regulate the rights and obligations of all students enrolled in master s degree programmes at the university, in respect of education, course examinations and final examinations. These regulations relate to the funded master s degree programme in the sense of Article 7.3a of the Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; WHW; hereinafter referred to as the Act ) which, due to their status of funded programmes must comply with the provisions of the Act, as well as to the nonfunded master s degree programmes provided by the university, to which the provisions of the Act do not apply. University-wide education and examination regulations applicable to all master's degree programmes provided by the university are desirable. Firstly, because both funded and non-funded master s degree programmes must be accredited and entered in the Central Register of Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes (CROHO). Secondly, standard education and examination regulations for all master s degree programmes provided by the university are desirable where quality is concerned, since they will make the quality of the study programmes mutually comparable and assessable. For the same reason, these regulations are, insofar as possible, in line with the existing EER for the HU bachelor's degree programmes. On the grounds of Article 7.13 of the Act, Education and Examination Regulations (EER) (Onderwijs- en Examenregeling; OER) have to be established for each study programme or a group thereof. Within HU, the Education and Examination Regulations comprise a university-wide part, a faculty-specific part (Chapter 10), and a programme-specific part (the Programme EER). These three parts complement one another and are indivisibly interconnected. The university-wide part and the faculty-specific part (Chapter 10) together make up the joint HU EER. The Programme EER have been integrated into study guides and are the most relevant to students and lecturers. The HU EER contain adequate and clear information about the study programme or group of programmes, and apply to all full-time, part-time, and work-study students insofar as the text does not state otherwise. Some provisions of the university-wide part of the HU EER have been regulated in more detail in the faculty-specific Chapter 10; if so, reference will be made to Chapter 10 in the article. The provisions in Chapter 10 solely apply to the students registered at the faculty concerned. Furthermore, Chapter 10 provides a brief summary of the most important information (Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes data, entry requirements, etc.) for all the study programmes provided by the relevant faculty. The HU EER outline the rights and obligations of all HU students with respect to education, final examinations, and course examinations. The HU EER are based both on the Act and on the general policy of our university. The HU EER are determined by the Executive Board. Whenever the term study programme is used in the HU EER, it should be read as the master's degree programme. (For definitions of terminology, see Article 1.) Separate EER apply to the bachelor's degree programmes. 4/39

5 In the HU EER, it is indicated as to which items have been regulated in more detail in the study guides. This primarily concerns the organisation of education; for each study programme, specific rules have been set for the further detailing and specifying of the HU EER. In this context, the HU EER refers to the study guides. Programme Management Boards are thus given the specific authority to include detailed regulations in the study guides for the programme(s) concerned. The study guide also includes general information regarding the university's outlook on education and its students' position, as well as the rights that are granted to these students. In the development of the study guide, the provisions of the higher regulations (read: HU EER for master s degree programmes) should be recognised. After all, the different sets of regulations are intended to complement each other. In case of inconsistency, the higher regulations always prevail. The information in the study guide prevails over the information in the programme guidelines. Wherever the HU EER text corresponds to the Act, the number of the relevant article of the Act has been added between brackets. For the purpose of the readability of the HU EER, only the most relevant provisions of the Act have been included. In the explanatory notes on the HU EER, the text of the Act naturally prevails. Therefore, please refer to the Act if need be. The EER and the study guide will be redetermined annually and will replace the previous version that then no longer applies. If old rules must be maintained, transitional regulations will be adopted, specifying to whom and to what date the old rules still apply. The EER and study guide for a specific academic year apply to all students registered in that academic year. 5/39

6 2 DEFINITIONS Article 1 Definitions The following definitions are used in these regulations: 1. Department: An organisational unit at a faculty, responsible for providing: - one or more bachelor s degree programmes at that faculty, as well as their associated departmental bodies (Institute or cluster) if any, and/or: - one or more master s degree programmes at that faculty, as well as their associated departmental bodies (Academy) if any, and/or: - one or more part-time bachelor s degree programmes or part-time master s degree programmes and/or activities such as commercial courses and services provided by that faculty, as well as their associated departmental bodies (Centre), all this as regulated in the Faculty Organisation Decree determined by the Faculty Director. 2. Department Director 1 : The director of a department whose role and authority are governed by the Faculty Authorisation Sub-Decree (Faculteitssubmandateringsbesluit) as determined by the Faculty Director. 3. Appeal: The legal procedure before the Examination Appeals Tribunal or the Disputes Advisory Committee 2, as provided for in the HU Student Legal Protection Regulations. 4. Objection: The legal procedure before the Examination Board or another body issuing a decision with legal consequences with the intention of that same body reviewing the decision as provided for in the HU Student Legal Protection Regulations. 5. Executive Board: The executive body of the university, also the Institutional Board of Stichting Hogeschool Utrecht (HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht Foundation) pursuant to Article 10.8 of the Act whose roles and competences are governed by the Statutes of the Stichting Hogeschool Utrecht. 6. Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes (CROHO): One of the legal duties of the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO), the educational services agency at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, is the registration and publication of the details of study programmes provided by funded and assigned higher education institutes. These details are entered in the Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes, which is managed by DUO. 7. CROHO study programme: A study programme registered in CROHO, the Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes. 1 2 In case a department has two or more directors, this should be read as Departmental Board throughout this decree. In Article 7.63a, the Act refers to the Dispute Advisory Committee for objection. In order to clearly distinguish the procedure from the (previous) procedure for objections within the faculty, HU chooses to also refer to this as an appeals procedure. 6/39

7 8. Course: Equivalent of the legal term educational unit. A cohesive whole of knowledge, insight, and skills to be acquired, which is part of the study programme. A course can also relate to the practical preparation for the professional practice in terms of the education in a work-study programme, insofar as these activities take place under the supervision of a department. An Examination Board can, on conditions set by that Board, also recognise as a course the work performed by a part-time student (7.3.2 and 7.27). The study load of a course is expressed in whole credits (see also: European Credit). 9. Part-examination: An investigation into a student's knowledge, insight, and/or skills with a formal assessment of the outcomes wherein an investigation is part of the course examination. No ECs are awarded for successfully passing a part-examination; ECs are only awarded for full course examinations. 10. Part-time study programme: A study programme organised in such a way as to allow a student to work alongside his or her education. In certain circumstances, certain activities may be recognised as an educational unit acknowledged as a course, and the competences acquired in that course will be examined (7.27). 11. Work-study programme: A study programme that is designed in such a manner that attending classes during one or more periods is alternated with professional practice related to those classes. The study programme consists of an educational and professional practice component. The professional practice is part of the educational programme and, therefore, credits may be granted. (7.7.2) 12. European Credit (EC): A European Credit (EC) is the unit of study load in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One European Credit equals 28 hours of study. 13. Examination: The final programme assessement. A final examination shall be attached to each study programme. An examination may comprise an investigation into the student's knowledge, insight, and skills conducted by the Examination Board itself. 14. Examination Board: A Board instituted in accordance with Article 7.12 of the Act for the purpose of holding, organising and coordinating, and assuring the quality of course examinations and final examinations for one or more study programmes. 15. Examiner: A person assigned by the Examination Board, who is charged with holding the course examinations and determining the results thereof. The Examination Board may also designate experts from outside the study programme as examiners. 16. External student (extraneus): Students registered with the university as an external student pursuant to Article 7.32 et seq. of the Act. An external student is not entitled to follow a degree programme, but may, however, undertake course and final examinations and make use of certain student facilities. 7/39

8 17. Faculty: An organisational unit of the university, responsible for a number of associated study programmes, as included in the HU Organisation Decree, as determined by the Executive Board, and the faculty bodies, as included in the Faculty Organisation Decree determined by the Faculty Director. 18. Faculty Director: The director of a faculty whose roles and competences are governed by the HU Authorisation Decree (Mandateringsbesluit) as determined by the Executive Board. 19. Certificate: The documentary evidence the diploma presented by the Examination Board, which conveys that the final examination for the relevant study programme has been passed successfully (7.11). 20. The university: The HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht as maintained by the Stichting Hogeschool Utrecht. 21. The HU Student Legal Protection Desk: A facility established by the Executive Board as described in Article 7.59a where students are able to submit complaints and appeals, and that ensures that these are referred to the appropriate university body. The HU Student Legal Protection Desk is part of the Student Affairs Office. 22. HU Course Catalogue: A public register that describes all the study programmes, elective courses, and pre-master s programmes offered by the university, including the target groups, and entry requirements, if any. 23. Learning outcomes: Learning outcomes are derived from the competences set for a course and describe what a student should know and be able to do and/or understand in order to demonstrate that they possess certain competences. 24. Learning path-independent examinations: A learning path-independent examination is the assessment of knowledge, insight, and skills on the basis of learning outcomes, irrespective of the (type of) learning path in which these competences were developed. The assessment criteria are based on learning outcomes that are not derived from a specific learning programme. The assessment is learning path-independent in the sense that the assessment criteria and methods are determined by the competence domain. 25. Master s degree programme: A Higher Professional Education programme as referred to in Article 7.3a and 7.3b of the Act. Upon completion of this study programme, the student is awarded the degree of Master. See also: study programme. 26. Education and Examination Regulations (EER): The regulations for study programmes or groups of study programmes as intended in Article 7.13 of the Act. The principal education and examination regulations for the entire university are described in the HU Education and Examination Regulations. Further details of, and additions to, these regulations at the faculty level are included in Chapter 10 and, at the programme level, they are incorporated in the study guides for the study programmes. 8/39

9 27. Study programme: A cohesive part of courses, aimed at achieving the well described objectives concerning the knowledge, insight, and skills hat should be possessed by the person who completes the study programme. Study programmes are designed as full-time, part-time, or work-study programmes. (7.3.2). Whenever the term study programme is used in these regulations, it should be read as master s degree programme. 28. Programme committee: A committee as referred to in Article 10.3c of the Act. For each study programme or a group of programmes provided by a department, a programme committee is appointed. Its organisation, tasks, authorities, and procedures are regulated by the Programme Committee Regulations as determined by the Faculty Director. 29. OSIRIS: The electronic study progress system for all study programmes and students at HU, in which the study details have been entered for each student. The study details are governed by the Student Personal Data Privacy Regulations of the university. 30. Specialisation: A cohesive whole of courses within a study programme, aimed at the acquisition of specific indepth knowledge and skills. 31. Student: An individual who is registered (for a full-time, part-time, or work-study programme) with the university, pursuant to Article 7.32 et seq. Students' rights and obligations are described in the HU Student Charter drawn up by the Executive Board. 32. Student counsellor: The member of staff, as referred to in Article 7.34, paragraph 1, sub d of the Act, whose duty it is to advise, guide, and, if necessary, represent the interests of students, and furthermore fulfil an alerting and advisory role in his or her own work field within the faculty and university. 33. Study guide: An information guide for students of one or more study programmes determined by the Departmental Management Board. The study guide includes, among other things, the Programme EER, which is a more detailed and practical elaboration on the HU EER and the faculty-specific Chapter 10 at the study programme level. 34. Academic year: The time period that starts on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the subsequent year, as referred to in Article 1.1 of the Act. 35. Study load: The standardised required time for each study programme and each course, expressed in whole ECs. (7.4.1). The study load, and the components it comprises, is indicated and motivated in the course description in the study guide. 36. Study career counsellor: Mentor, study adviser, or another staff member assigned to study counselling (whether certified or not). 9/39

10 37. Course examination: A course examination shall be attached to each course. A course examination may comprise a maximum of two part-examinations per unit of 5 European Credits (EC), unless it is determined in Chapter 10 that course examinations for the degree courses mentioned may be comprised of multiple part-examinations. The course examination comprises an investigation into the knowledge, insight, and/or skills of the candidate, as well as the assessment of the outcomes of that investigation (7.3.3 and ). 38. Variant: The design of the programme as being full-time, work-study, and part-time (7.7.1). 39. Declaration: The Examination Board may, on request, present to the person who has successfully passed more than one course examination and to whom no certificate can be presented, a declaration to be issued by the relevant Examination Board, which in any case shall include the course examinations that were successfully passed by the student. (7.11.5) 40. Full-time study programme: A full-time study programme is a study programme designed without taking into account any other activities but the educational activities. Activities in the form of work placements are part of the curriculum of the programme and may yield ECs. 41. Week: A period of seven consecutive days, with the exception of generally acknowledged holidays which have been entered in Osiris. The annual summer and Christmas break as determined by the HU Student Legal Protection Desk, only has a suspensive effect on the terms for objections and appeals. 42. WHW (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek): The Higher Education and Research Act as published in the Bulletin of Acts and Decrees (Staatsblad) 1992, no. 593, including subsequent additions and/or amendments. 10/39

11 3 GENERAL STIPULATIONS Article 2 Statutory foundations 1. At the university, the Education and Examination Regulations as referred to in Article 7.13 of the Act and in the HU Student Charter consists of 3 parts: - the general part of these HU Education and Examination Regulations for master s degree programmes, which applies to all master's degree programmes provided by the university; - Chapter 10 of the HU EER, which adds more faculty-specific details to some of the provisions in the general part and that only applies to the study programmes provided by the relevant faculty, and; - the Master s Degree Programme EER (included in the study guide), which is a more detailed and practical elaboration on the HU EER at the study programme level. The general part and the faculty-specific part (Chapter 10) together make up the joint HU EER. 2. As for the ranking order of the above-mentioned regulations, it applies that, in case of inconsistency, the "higher regulations" prevail over the elaboration thereon. The content of the study guide prevails over the contents of documents that may be regarded as an elaboration on the provisions set out in the study guide. Article 3 Scope 1. These regulations apply to the master s degree programmes provided by HU which, as referred to in Article 7.3a of the Act, are funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, as well as the master s degree programmes as referred to in Article 7.3b of the Act, which are not funded. The Education and Examination Regulations apply to all students enrolled in this academic year 3, and replaces all previous versions. 2. Wherever these regulations refer to final examinations or course examinations, these should be understood to also include the parts of a final or course examination, which are assessed separately in a part examination, unless the text explicitly states otherwise. 3. Wherever these regulations refer to a study programme, this may also be read as a whole of two or more related study programmes. 4. These regulations apply to all full-time, part-time, and work-study students enrolled in the current academic year, insofar as the text does not state or imply otherwise. These regulations only apply to external students,insofar as the provisions are important in view of the content and the taking of course or final examinations. Article 4 Education in Dutch 1. Classes shall be taught in Dutch. The course and final examinations shall be held in Dutch. 2. In deviation from the first paragraph, another language may be used: a. when it concerns a study programme that relates to that other language; b. when it concerns a guest lecture that is given by a lecturer who speaks a different language; 3 The EER shall be redetermined annually and replace the previous version which then no longer applies. Old rules, therefore, no longer apply, unless transitional regulations have been adopted. 11/39

12 c. If the specific nature 4, design, or quality of the class(es), or the origin of the students, make it necessary - in which case, the Code of Conduct relevant to the programme is the included in Chapter 10 (7.2). It shall be indicated in the study guide whether a class is taught in a language other than Dutch. Article 5 Publication The Faculty Director shall be responsible for publishing the following in a timely fashion, before the start of the academic year 5 (in any case before 1 July of the previous academic year), and in such a manner that prospective students can make a proper judgement as to the content and design of the education provided and the course and final examinations: a. the courses offered by the faculty; b. the broad outline of the study guide. The information shall be presented in such a way that the future student is also able to compare study programme options and that the agreements with student representative bodies and/or ministerial regulations are followed. 4 This concerns, for instance, study programmes with an international curriculum, or a curriculum taught in English. In the HU Enrolment Regulations it is further determined as to which language test and which result should be achieved in accordance with the International Student Code of Conduct. 5 Monitoring is a task of HU Services. 12/39

13 4 EXAMINATION BOARDS: Article 6 Appointment, authorities, and work procedures 1. For each study programme or group of programmes provided by an institute, or for all study programmes provided by the faculty, the Faculty Director shall establish an Examination Board and appoint its members on the basis of their expertise in the area of the relevant study programme or group of programmes. (7.12 and 7.12a) In case there are more Examination Boards within a faculty, the Faculty Director is responsible for a meeting of the Examination Board Chairs at least twice per year. 2. The Faculty Director shall ensure that the Examination Board(s) at his or her faculty have at their disposal a joint Secretariat with an administrative Secretary as a member of that Secretariat. 3. The Faculty Director shall ensure that the independent and expert functioning of the Examination Board is sufficiently assured. (7.12a) 4. The Examination Board shall determine, in an objective and competent manner, whether a student meets the conditions set by the EER in respect of the knowledge, insight, and skills that are needed to obtain a degree. (7.12) 5. In addition to the duties and authorities mentioned elsewhere in these regulations, the Examination Board shall be charged with: a. Assuring the quality of course and final examinations, without prejudice to the provisions in Article 8 of these regulations; b. Advising the Programme Management in determining the assessment policy; c. Determining the guidelines and instructions within the scope of the EER, for assessing and determining the course and final examination results; d. Granting exemption from taking one or more course examinations (7.12b); e. Presenting diplomas (7.11); f. Determining examination results; g. Appointing examiners; h. Passing judgement on examination irregularities; i. Approving elective courses and minors. 6. The Examination Board shall not be allowed to assign or delegate all or part of its authorities to other bodies or members of staff. The Examination Board may, however, charge one or more of its members with making preparations for decision-making, and may seek advice from (a committee of) experts. 7. The Examination Board shall write an annual report of its activities and submits this report to the Institutional Board and, also for discussion, to the Faculty Director (7.12b). 8. The Examination Board Regulations, which are referred to in the overview of faculty-specific and/or programme-specific regulations in Chapter 10, include detailed rules as regards the duties and authorities of Examination Boards. 13/39

14 Article 7 Composition and appointments 1. Prior to their appointment, the Faculty Director shall hear the members of the relevant Examination Board. (7.12a) 2. The members of the Examination Board shall meet the following requirements: - all members are to complete, or have completed, the Examination Board course 6 provided by the Human Recourse Office (Stafdienst P&O); - at least one member of the Examination Board is an expert specifically in the area of assessment policy; - at least one member of the Examination Board is employed as a lecturer for one of the programmes within the relevant group of programmes. (7.12a) 3. An external expert may also be appointed as a member of the Examination Board. The Examination Board may also consult an external expert. 4. A person who holds a position that may give rise to (the appearance of) a conflict of interest, in any case including a managerial position within the department responsible for the relevant study programme or group of programmes, cannot be appointed as a member of the Examination Board. 5. With the appointments it shall also be stated as to which of the members act as Chair and Deputy Chair. The Faculty Board may further appoint an administrative Secretary. 6. The appointments shall take place for a period as laid down in the appointment decision. The members can be re-appointed each time, as long the requirements as referred to in paragraph 2 are met, unless otherwise determined in the faculty-specific elaboration on the Examination Board Regulations. Their Board membership shall be terminated: a. when the period mentioned in the appointment decision expires; or: b. when the person concerned accepts a managerial position within the department responsible for the relevant study programme or group of programmes; or will take on another position or sidejob that may give rise to (the appearance of) a conflict of interests; or c. when the person concerned is no longer involved in the relevant study programme or group of programmes; d. at the own request of a member of the Examination BoardSuch, at the discretion of the Faculty Board. 7. The appointment decision shall be taken before the start of an academic year. The composition of the Examination Board for a study programme shall be announced to the students in a timely fashion. The term of appointment commences on 1 October. 6 This comprises basic training and annual continuing education, according to a training schedule, which is updated by the P&O department on an annual basis. This schedule can be obtained from the P&O department on request. 14/39

15 Article 8 Examiners 1. For the purpose of holding the course examinations, determining the results, and entering those in OSIRIS, the Examination Board, on the recommendation of the Academy Director, shall appoint staff members 7 or external experts who are charged with providing the education for the relevant study programme or group of programmes. Preferably at least two examiners shall be appointed for each course or group of courses. The examiners are not allowed to assign or delegate these authorities to others. 2. The Examination Board may also designate experts from outside the study programme 8 as examiners. This is allowed if at least the following three criteria are met: - the person concerned has at least completed a master's degree programme; - the person concerned is attached to the university for a longer period of time (at least also for the next educational period); - the person concerned can demonstrate that, on the grounds of previous experiences, he or she is capable of holding examinations and assess whether a student meets the required higher education level, or has completed the module Toetsen en beoordelen of the HUexpertisecentrum docent HBO. 3. The examiners shall provide the Examination Board with all the requested information. The examiner shall carry out the examination policy as determined by the director of the faculty or department. The Examination Board may provide the examiners with guidelines and instructions for that purpose. 4. The Examination Board may decide to revoke the appointment of an examiner if the examiner does not adhere to law and legislation or the guidelines for the Examination Board, or if his or her examinations repeatedly lack sufficient quality. Article 9 Examination Board request procedure 1. The student may submit to the Examination Board a letter of request if the student believes to have an interest in a decision by the Examination Board on the grounds of the EER, which decision involves the application or an actual deviation from the EER. The letter of request should be submitted to the Examination Board in writing or electronically, and in a timely fashion. 2. If a student submits to the Examination Board a request that involves an examiner who is a member of the Examination Board, the examiner concerned shall not take part in the deliberation on the request. (7.12b) 3. The letter of request shall be undersigned 9 and shall include at least: a) the name, address details, and student registration number of the sender; b) the date; c) the request and reasons for that request; d) the study programme and variant (full-time, part-time, work-study programme) in which the student is enrolled, as well as the code of the course to which the request is related, if applicable. 7 Below are employees with a contract in accordance with the CAO-HBO understood. 8 The so-called PNIL, staff without an employment contract 9 If the letter of request is submitted electronically, the student s signature is not necessary. 15/39

16 e) documentary evidence, if any. 4. Before taking its decision, the Examination Board may demand that the request be further motivated and/or supported by further documentary evidence. 5. The Examination Board shall inform the applicant of its decision by letter or in a timely fashion, in any case within a maximum 3 weeks of the receipt of the request. 6. The request procedure may be further regulated in the study guide. 7. If the Examination Board foresees that it will not be able to take a decision within the specified term, it shall inform the sender thereof within 2 weeks after the receipt of the request. The Board should then state the term within which it will make its decision, and the reasons for the delay. 8. In accordance with Article 45, decisions, as referred to in this article, are open to objections and appeals. In the decision itself, the student shall be informed of the possibility of submitting an objection and the prevailing term to do so. 9. If the provisions in the EER offer the possibility to do so, the Examination Board can deviate from a provision as laid down in the EER on a request to that effect made by the student and within the boundaries indicated in the EER. Such a decision should also be motivated in writing. The Examination Board may, in any case, not deviate from the provisions that relate to: - the prohibition on delegating authorities; - the grounds on which exemptions may be granted; - the standards for graduating with distinction or with merit; - the compensation regulations as referred to in Article 19, paragraph 4. 16/39

17 5 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURE Article 10 Admission requirements 10 Individuals may only register for a study programme if they satisfy the prior education and admission requirements set for the relevant study programme. The prior education and admission requirements are described in Chapter 10. (7.30b) Article 11 Admission procedure For the registration for a study programme a certificate of admission to the relevant study programme is required. Upon request, the Faculty Director shall issue a certificate of admission, if: a. the person concerned meets the prior education and admission requirements; and b. insofar as the Faculty Director has set a maximum to the number of persons that may register for the study programme, that maximum number is not exceeded. 2. The certificate of admission, as referred to in the first paragraph, shall relate to the academic year following the academic year during which that certificate is applied for, unless the Faculty Director decides otherwise (7.30a, paragraphs 3 and 5, 7.30b). 3. If the individual concerned does not satisfy the admission requirements, as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, but he or she may reasonably be expected to satisfy these requirements within a reasonable period of time, then he or she will be offered the opportunity to correct these shortcomings in order to satisfy the admissions requirements after all. The student can only be registered for the study programme once he or she meets the admission requirements (7.30 e) See also Articles 16 and 17 of the HU Enrolment Regulations. See also Articles 16 and 17 of the HU Enrolment Regulations. 17/39

18 6 STUDY PROGRAMME DESIGN Article 12 Study programme The university provides competence-focused and demand-driven education, which is described in the study guide. This shall in any case include: a. the objectives of the study programme; b. which qualities in the areas of knowledge, insight, and skills the student should have acquired upon the completion of the study programme; c. which professional attitude the student should have acquired upon the completion of the study programme; d. the content of the specialisations within the study programme. (7.13.2) Article 13 Study load 1. The study load of each study programme and each course is expressed in whole ECs. One credit equals 28 hours of study (7.4.1). 2. The total study load of a master s degree programme in higher professional education is 60 credits at minimum (7.4b.2). 3. On the basis of a legal obligation, the study programme may have a study load greater than 60 ECs. 4. The Executive Board may determine that the study load of a study programme has a study load greater than 60 ECs (7.4b.8). Article 14 General design requirements 1. In Chapter 10, it shall be indicated for each study programme as to whether it is designed as a fulltime, part-time, or work-study programme, and which other forms of differentiation in training programmes and/or duration and speed are available. (7.7 and ) 2. Study programmes focused on a certain profession with regard to which, or pursuant to the law, requirements have been set in respect of the knowledge, insight, and skills that the persons concerned should have acquired during the study programme for that profession, shall be designed in such a way that those participating in this study programme shall at the least have the possibility of meeting those requirements (7.6.1). Article 15 Design of work-study programmes 1. Notwithstanding the provisions in the previous articles in this chapter, the provisions in the following paragraphs of this article shall apply to the design of study-work programmes. 2. Per work-study programme, the study guide shall state: a. the minimum study load per educational unit; b. the minimum duration of the period or the minimum accumulative duration of the periods that are spent in the profession practice, and c. the minimum study load of the part of the study programme that is made up of the work in the professional practice, with a justification of the number of ECs (7.7.3 and 7.7.4). 18/39

19 3. With regard to the work in the professional practice within in a work-study programme, a three-party agreement will be concluded under civil law, between the Departmental Board of Directors, the student, and the company or organisation where the work will be performed. With due regard to the education and examination regulations, this agreement shall in any case arrange for: a. the term of effect of the agreement and the duration of the period or periods of the work in the professional practice; b. the supervision of the student; c. the qualities in the areas of knowledge, insight, and skills the student should acquire during the period or periods of working in the professional practice and the assessment thereof, and d. the cases, and the manner, in which the agreement can be dissolved prematurely. (7.7.5) Article 16 Study counselling and progress 1. The student shall be entitled to study counselling by, among others, a study career counsellor. In the study guide, it shall be indicated as to how the study counselling will take place. 2. The individual study progress shall be registered in OSIRIS. This registration shall provide insight into the interim study results as well as the total number of ECs achieved for the study programme by the end of an academic year (7.13.2). Article 16a Admission restrictions for specialisations 1. If a study programme allows more than one specialisation, the Examination Board may decide that the student enrolled in that study programme will only be admitted to one or more specialisations within that study programme. 2. The authority of the Examination Board as referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply only to the study programme or group of programmes classified as such in Chapter 10. A classification to this end shall only be possible if the nature and the content of the different specialisations within a study programme differ in such a way that classification is justified. 3. If a study programme is classified as a study programme with admission restrictions for specialisations, the student shall inform the Examination Board of his or her desired specialisation, with the submission of a list of the courses he or she has completed so far as well as the study results achieved. 4. In the application of paragraph 1, the Examination Board shall base its decision on: a. the student s study results, or b. the courses completed by the student, or c. a combination of a and b. The Examination Board shall give the student the opportunity to be heard before taking its decision. 5. In weighing the study results as referred to in paragraph 4, the Examination Board shall take into account the personal circumstances of the student. Article 35, paragraph 5 applies likewise. 6. In weighing the courses completed by the student as referred to in paragraph 4, the Examination Board shall assess whether the courses selected by the student sufficiently fit in with the specialisation desired by the student. 19/39

20 7. For the implementation of this article, further regulations shall be included in the study guide, in any case with respect to: a. the difference in nature and content of the specialisations; b. the required study results for the classified programme units; c. the connection between the programme units and the specialisations within the study programme; d. the timeframe in which the student has to notify the Examination Board of his or her choice. Article 17 Work placement and practical assignments 1. Study programmes that are specifically aimed at certain professions, shall in any case comprise a practical preparation for the professional practice. (7.6.3) 2. It shall be indicated in the study guide as to which activities or work shall be considered as part of the work placement and which courses shall constitute practical exercises. Where necessary, it shall also be indicated: a. which course examinations must be passed, before a student may start a work placement or practical exercises; b. which work placements or practical exercises must be completed before certain course examinations may be taken. (7.13.2) 3. With regard to work placements and practical exercises, the study guide shall in any case include regulations for: a. the duration and periods; b. the manner in which available places are divided or allocated; c. whatever is expected from the student in preparation; d. which costs are for the account of the student; e. which assessment standards apply; f. how and when assessment takes place; g. the possibilities of redoing (if the student failed), as well as interruption and early termination. (7.13.2) 4. The relevant students shall be informed of the regulations as referred to in paragraph 4 in a timely manner before the start of the academic year. Article 18 Financial contributions 1. The costs of educational necessities for personal use for the purpose of participating in education, the course examinations or the final examinations for the study programme in which the student is enrolled, shall be for the account of the student concerned. 2. The costs of educational facilities for the benefit of the students and the good of education, may, in all reasonability, be charged to the relevant students by the Faculty Director, unless these facilities are necessary considering the nature of the study programme. 3. The educational necessities as referred to in paragraph 1 and the educational facilities as referred to in paragraph 2 shall be classified as such in the study guide. 20/39

21 4. An estimate of the amount of the costs referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, as well as the manner of payment of the costs referred to in paragraph 2, shall be announced in writing in, or on the basis of, the study guide to the relevant students in a timely manner, before the start of each academic year. 5. The student who, for demonstrable financial reasons, is unable to pay the costs of the educational facilities as referred to in paragraph 2, may submit a request to the Faculty Director for an alternative educational facility that is to be provided free of charge, or a financial facility or a release from the payment obligation. 6. Costs for activities based on voluntary participation are not eligible for compensation. 21/39

22 7 DESIGN OF FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND COURSE EXAMINATIONS Article 19 Course examinations and final examinations 1. A final examination shall be attached to every study programme. A course examination shall be attached to each course. A course examination may comprise a maximum of two part-examinations per unit of 5 ECs, unless it is determined in Chapter 10 that course examinations for the study programmes that are mentioned there may be comprised of multiple part-examinations. It is indicated in the course description in the study guide whether a course examination comprises part-examinations, and if it comprises more part-examinations than mentioned in the main provision above, the motivation for this deviation is also stated (7.3.3). If a certain result must be achieved for a part-examination, this is also indicated in the study guide. The weighting of the different part-examinations is also included in the study guide. If the course examination has been passed successfully (after weighing of any part-examinations), the ECs for the relevant course are awarded. 2. The Faculty Director shall allow students, who are enrolled in a study programme provided by the relevant faculty, the opportunity to take the course and final examinations required for that study programme. 3. If the course examinations for the courses within a study programme have been passed successfully, the examination will have been concluded, unless it has been determined in the study guide that the examination will also comprise an additional investigation conducted by the Examination Board itself. The study guide shall state to what items the additional investigation will relate (7.10.2). 4. An Examination Board can, under its own conditions, stipulate that not every course 12 examination must have been passed to determine that the final examination has been passed successfully. If compensation regulations are applicable, Chapter 10 shall include for which study programmes these are in effect, as well as the course examinations to which they apply and under which conditions (7.12b.3). Compensation is not permitted if this constitutes an infringement on the requirement that the student possesses the knowledge, insight, and skills that must be demonstrated within the scope of the examination. 5. Results of course examinations, part examinations, work placements, and practical exercises shall be valid during a period of 6 years, unless stated otherwise in the study guide. On the request of the student, the Examination Board may extend this period of validity, or demand an additional or replacement course examination in case the period of validity for a course examination has passed. 6. In consecutive academic years, the titles, formats, and/or contents of courses and course examinations may be modified or replaced. In the academic year following such modification or replacement, the student shall be granted at least two opportunities to take the course examination as based on the outdated course. Conversion tables and transitional regulations shall be published in the study guide. 12 This does not affect the possibility to compensate for the results of part-examinations within a single course (in which case there may be bottom marks set for the part-examinations, see paragraph 1). 22/39

23 7. The study guide shall further regulate: a. the order in which a course examination may, or should be, taken; b. where necessary, that the passing of course examinations is a condition for access to other course examinations (7.13.2). Article 20 Registering for courses 1. Participating in courses shall solely be possible after timely registration via OSIRIS. 2. The registration for a course shall in any case be possible until 2 weeks before the start of an educational period. 3. The student shall be responsible for the registration, unless determined otherwise in Chapter The student cannot register for the same course more than once in the same academic year, unless the study guide states otherwise or on the grounds of a request by the student to that effect. 5. Correct registration shall give the student the right to participate in the required courses within the relevant curriculum. Only in case of an elective course, a department may decide to not provide the elective course if the number of registrations is too small. An elective course for international students cannot be cancelled for this reason. Article 21 Compulsory attendance 1. In view of the taking of the relevant course examination, compulsory attendance for (a part of) a course may be imposed as regulated in the study guide, insofar as the assessment for the course so requires. 2. The Examination Board may grant a student exemption from compulsory attendance as referred to in the previous paragraph, whether or not under conditions for replacement study. (7.13) Article 22 Content of course and final examinations 1. The university shall provide competence-focused and demand-driven education, which means that the teaching of knowledge, insights, and skills is offered in mutual connection and can be traced back to the demands placed on graduates by the professional field. Each course examination and final examination shall comprise an investigation into the knowledge, insight, and skills of the student, as well as the assessment of the outcomes of that investigation. An Examination Board may instigate their own investigation into the knowledge, insight, and skills of the student, for instance on the grounds of the provisions of Article 38, paragraph 2 (7.10.1). 2. The results of the course examination shall be expressed in OSIRIS as follows: a) the words Pass (abbreviated as "VD") or Fail (abbreviated as "NVD"); b) or the indication "not present" (abbreviated as "NA") if the student did not finish the course examination; c) or the words "Not Valid" (abbreviated as "NG") if the result has been annulled by the Examination Board due to irregularities, or on the grounds of the provision of paragraph 4 of this article; 13 Students are often registered for the study programme by the department responsible. This has not (as yet) been uniformly arranged within the university. 23/39